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Great Swamp to honor Whitman at gala

On October 12, over 400 community leaders, elected officials, and top New Jersey environmental activists are expected to attend the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s (GWSA) 36th Annual Gala & Silent Auction at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park

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Great Swamp to honor Whitman at gala

Susan Bloom, Correspondent
Published 12:00 p.m. ET Oct. 1, 2017

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New Jersey Conservation Foundation has announced that the group has secured an option to purchase land in East Amwell Township to add to the preserved acreages in the Sourland Mountain region.
Nick Muscavage | Wochit

On October 12, over 400 community leaders, elected officials, and top New Jersey environmental activists are expected to attend the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s (GWSA) 36th Annual Gala & Silent Auction at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, where former New Jersey Governor and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will be honored for her decades of leadership and environmental stewardship.(Photo: ~Courtesy of The Whitman Strategy Group)

On Oct. 12, more than 400 community leaders, elected officials, and top New Jersey environmental activists are expected to attend the Great Swamp Watershed Association’s 36th Annual Gala & Silent Auction at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park.

Former New Jersey Governor and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will be honored for her decades of leadership and environmental stewardship.

“Christine Todd Whitman has always been so passionate about environmental causes and so supportive of the Great Swamp Watershed Association and we’re honored and proud to recognize her for her invaluable environmental contributions to the state of New Jersey over the past 30+ years,” said Sally Rubin,the association's executive director.

Whitman, a Tewksbury resident who served as governor of New Jersey from 1994-2001 and EPA Administrator from 2001-2003, is currently president of The Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues. Among her many career accomplishments, Whitman committed to preserving a record amount of New Jersey lands as permanent green space.

Founded in 1981, the Great Swamp Watershed Association is dedicated to protecting and improving water resources in the Passaic River region by monitoring local streams, advocating for intelligent land use, and educating communities about the local environment.

While the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge occupies 7,768 acres throughout Chatham, Harding, and Long Hill in Morris County, water from five different streams connects it to the larger 55 square-mile Great Swamp Watershed region, which includes all or parts of 10 towns in Morris and Somerset County, including Bernards, Bernardsville, Chatham, Harding, Long Hill, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Morris, and Morristown.

“Over the past decade, we’ve successfully doubled our staff, funding, and subsequent impact, which reflects that people believe in what we’re doing, and we were recently accredited by the National Land Trust Alliance, signifying that GWSA meets the highest standards for land conservation,” Rubin said. “We were also just designated the Passaic River Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate, enabling us to protect not only our 10 towns but also the Passaic River from source to sea. We’re thrilled to be able to expand our reach geographically relative to the provision of important services in the areas of water quality testing, education and advocacy, and land protection.”

Of the Oct. 12 event, Rubin said, “we hope the community will attend our annual gala and capitalize on the great opportunity it will provide to network, hear the former governor’s remarks, and learn about the landmark strides being made by the Great Swamp Watershed Association.”

To support the association:

The Great Swamp Watershed Association, at 568 Tempe Wick Road in Morristown, provides environmental education to community groups, teachers, and students, serving as a needed advocate and defender of New Jersey’s precious natural resources and promoting an understanding of the importance of protecting our drinking water and preserving the natural beauty of our environment.

For more information on the association or to purchase tickets to the organization’s 36th Annual Gala & Silent Auction at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park on Oct. 12, call 973-538-3500 or visit www.greatswamp.org. The gala’s silent auction catalog and access to mobile text bidding will be made available on the organization's website beginning Oct. 2.